Frenkie de Jong | The last muppeting lap

RedMilo said:

Correct if our name wasn't Manchester United, and his agent didn't already have many high profile names with the club, then we would have been already disregarded without Champions League football.

He will still likely join Chelsea in my opinion IF he leaves.. Let's see what this 4th lever does. If they manage to register all their names and complete Alonso, there is every chance they could leave their transfer activity there, and not do the Bernardo deal.. If they can't do all that with the 4th lever, then they still have to sell Frenkie or get significant wage reduction from him. It's not over but at this stage it's not likely either..

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I have no idea why the club want Alonso.. RB is a much more priority position. Balde looked fire in preseason and would be fine as Alba backup. At RB, it's said Xavi even prefers Kounde/Araujo, THAT is how bad Dest and Roberto are.

Bernardo 100% dependent on Frenkie leaving, he's basically the replacement lined up. If Frenkie lowered his wage I'd be happy to close the window after a RB is signed. Zero chance of that happening though, he'll certainly leave. I'm not really bothered where he goes but I hope a deal with Chelsea doesn't include fecking Alonso as a makeweight.

The holy trinity 68 said:

Chelsea haven't won the league in 5 years, 6 when they don't this year. They fluked the CL 2 seasons ago but I doubt they will go far this year and won't win the PL, so what do they really have to offer that United don't?

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They’ve looked more likely to win a trophy than we have every single season for the last 10 years. That’s what they offer that we don’t. Until we actually look like being able to compete, players won’t view us as a place to win trophies.

iHicksy said:

i think you're dreaming. United is not attractive for any top player. Hell, some mid level players are turning us down for Ajax.

There is not a single reason for FDJ to choose us over Chelsea.

Chelsea - Champions league football every season. Willing to spend whatever it takes. Team full of top players. Fantastic manager, high wages. Run as a football club. Lives in London.

Man United - Struggling team. Documented problems all over the media. Won't get top 4. No champions league football, and unlikely to get it any time soon. Run as a business. See's players like Ronaldo join and want to leave a season later. Only plus is ETH has worked with him before.

Hell, i'd say if you're a player then spurs are a more attractive proposition than us. Let alone Chelsea.

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The reason why Timber turned us down has nothing to do with our attractiveness, it’s because he would not be guaranteed a starting place at United and that LVG warned Timber that if he’s not a first team starter at the time of the WC it would put his WC place in jeopardy. That’s the truth.

Rams said:

The reason why Timber turned us down has nothing to do with our attractiveness, it’s because he would not be guaranteed a starting place at United and that LVG warned Timber that if he’s not a first team starter at the time of the WC it would put his WC place in jeopardy. That’s the truth.

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Yeah, this was a case of United potentially being too big for Timber, not the other way round

Rams said:

Thank you for proving my point, he literally shaked his head no, said he wouldn’t discuss players under contract at other clubs and that they would only sign the right players. That the British press is trying to spin it as “it’s FDJ or nothing” is not ETH’s or the club’s fault.

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He’s kind of just covering all bases. I’ve never thought ETH was of the mindset it’s FDJ or nothing. I think he was just giving a diplomatic answer. If he says we need FDJ otherwise we will get alternatives, then he’d make the club look even more silly if we weren’t able to get alternatives in. At the same time he doesn’t want to destroy his current options morale in case he still needs to rely on them like he had to on the opening day.

I honestly take what managers say in a press conference and interviews with a pinch of salt. They are never going to give too much away. Even with Tuchel saying midfield isn’t such a priority when asked about transfers means little to me. They’d still sign a player if he improved their team/squad regardless of whether it’s a priority.

The holy trinity 68 said:

Chelsea haven't won the league in 5 years, 6 when they don't this year. They fluked the CL 2 seasons ago but I doubt they will go far this year and won't win the PL, so what do they really have to offer that United don't?

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wasn’t a fluke at all

Rams said:

The reason why Timber turned us down has nothing to do with our attractiveness, it’s because he would not be guaranteed a starting place at United and that LVG warned Timber that if he’s not a first team starter at the time of the WC it would put his WC place in jeopardy. That’s the truth.

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Agreed. If there wasn’t a World Cup this year, I think Timber would be a Utd player.

I still feel we’ll try for him again in the January transfer window after the World Cup. He’s still a better option at RB than any of our current players.

Chief123 said:

He’s kind of just covering all bases. I’ve never thought ETH was of the mindset it’s FDJ or nothing. I think he was just giving a diplomatic answer. If he says we need FDJ otherwise we will get alternatives, then he’d make the club look even more silly if we weren’t able to get alternatives in. At the same time he doesn’t want to destroy his current options morale in case he still needs to rely on them like he had to on the opening day.

I honestly take what managers say in a press conference and interviews with a pinch of salt. They are never going to give too much away. Even with Tuchel saying midfield isn’t such a priority when asked about transfers means little to me. They’d still sign a player if he improved their team/squad regardless of whether it’s a priority.

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100% agreed. Good managers do not wash their laundry in public. ETH is uncannily similar to how Fergie handled his pressers.

..he’s even got the Fergie stare

The holy trinity 68 said:

Chelsea haven't won the league in 5 years, 6 when they don't this year. They fluked the CL 2 seasons ago but I doubt they will go far this year and won't win the PL, so what do they really have to offer that United don't?

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On what planet was the CL win last year a fluke? Certainly not planet Earth. We dominated at nearly every stage of the competition. Real Madrid this past season making a bunch of miraculous comebacks was infinitely more “flukey.”

If we make a couple more top quality signings (Fofana + a forward) we will absolutely be up there amongst the 5-6 favorites to win the CL.

Chief123 said:

Agreed. If there wasn’t a World Cup this year, I think Timber would be a Utd player.

I still feel we’ll try for him again in the January transfer window after the World Cup. He’s still a better option at RB than any of our current players.

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Actaully, to be more precise LVG will only pick him as CB and it’s as CB LVG wants him to play at club level… or else..

Orc said:

On what planet was the CL win last year a fluke? Certainly not planet Earth. We dominated at nearly every stage of the competition. Real Madrid this past season making a bunch of miraculous comebacks was infinitely more “flukey.”

If we make a couple more top quality signings (Fofana + a forward) we will absolutely be up there amongst the 5-6 favorites to win the CL.

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United, Arsenal and Tottenham seemed to being playing hot potato to avoid 4th place from about Dec on, yet Chelsea only managed to finish 5 points above 5th. Chelsea is not much better than, well Arsenal and Tottenham, and are no way guaranteed to stay in the top 4.

buchansleftleg said:

Yes I'd love to see the fine print of these Levers - it wouldn't surprise me if they tried to claim these long term image rights only apply to La Liga and that some future iteration / compromise on Super League isn't covered by them. The sums of money involved for the long term (20 years plus?) loss of revenue is beyond suicidal investment or a gamblers desperation. I'm sure they must be pinning their hopes on some sort of loophole.

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It’s almost as if I predicted EXACTLY this in the beginning of the Barca thread

They are counting on the Superleague in one of two ways:

If they can push the league through, then all money pertaining to their TV rights are based on a deal that would have no value to lose. That’s why they decided against the lever with their merch rights attached. They are ONLY touching future earnings related to TV deal revenue.

IF (fingers crossed) the Superleague fails, then they are counting on recouping that money through fines and lawsuits against the teams that pull out. The amount being bandied about is in the 80m + range PER offending team: to be divided three ways.

The only thing that has slowed that down is that I think Madrid is hesitant to get on board that image destroying train. I think Juventus would jump on in a heartbeat. The NY Times reported the heads of the 3 teams met to discuss “strategies related to the Super League” at a summit of sorts while in Las Vegas.

Barcelona has been launching very subtle PR campaigns since last year aimed at vilifying the evil “billionaire backed” teams that are destroying football. Even the digs and specific language aimed at the players they wanted to reduce on wages hints heavily at this strategy. They constantly use “trigger” words like ‘greedy’ and ‘selfish’ to describe their own team, businesses associated with teams, and wealthier teams. I think they believe they think this brainwashing campaign coupled with their brand history is enough to get them through the firestorm of trying to steal money from 18 or so other European teams.

Barcelona is a political organization. Taking other peoples money and spending it poorly, not thinking at all about future repercussions, and backing obviously dumb ideas is what political organizations do.

mu4c_20le said:

Yeah you guys really crushed Rennes, Krasnodar, and Porto along the way with your stalwart defense..

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Keep naming the teams in later rounds. Anyone can do what you are saying. I mean, I get it, you are coping.

crossy1686 said:

Or he’s just going to stay?

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Reports last night were that they needed a 5th lever to register all new signings and that the 5th lever was Frenkie's sale.

Add to that they still want to sign Bernardo

mu4c_20le said:

I'm willing to bet he won't. You've all been duped by the boely briefings

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Are you convinced he is joining us then pal? What makes you sure, if you think this? I really think we need this guy, but not allowing myself to believe, as I'm depressed enough with the club at the moment.

What has been the longest transfer saga on the forum page wise?

pocco said:

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

4th lever complete

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Crazy stuff!

It's like they're actually proud of it.

AmanNits04 said:

What has been the longest transfer saga on the forum page wise?

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This one

AmanNits04 said:

What has been the longest transfer saga on the forum page wise?

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This should be the record by a few hundred pages when (if) it's done…

Troozi said:

Crazy stuff!

It's like they're actually proud of it.

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Feels like they're just fecking up their future for a few new toys.

One day these deals will be scrutinised and found to be scams, some of the things I've already read about 3rd parties being involved whereby Barca all but get everything back for nothing and all sorts tell me there is very little legit about all of this. This day will be somewhat in the future and nothing will be done but nevertheless, how any club or business in general can get away with this and in turn treat their employees in this way is shameful.

They should be suspended from all competitions until players are paid and these deals are actually verified properly.

Raiden Shogun said:

I have no idea why the club want Alonso.. RB is a much more priority position. Balde looked fire in preseason and would be fine as Alba backup. At RB, it's said Xavi even prefers Kounde/Araujo, THAT is how bad Dest and Roberto are.

Bernardo 100% dependent on Frenkie leaving, he's basically the replacement lined up. If Frenkie lowered his wage I'd be happy to close the window after a RB is signed. Zero chance of that happening though, he'll certainly leave. I'm not really bothered where he goes but I hope a deal with Chelsea doesn't include fecking Alonso as a makeweight.

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As you are a Barca fan, is your ideal window Frankie stays and lowers his salary, or Frenkie leaves and Bernardo comes in?

Zaphod2319 said:

Keep naming the teams in later rounds. Anyone can do what you are saying. I mean, I get it, you are coping.

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I mean, it's not like you guys dont have form for fluking CLs with a new manager appointed in mid-season

iHicksy said:

But to address the above. It really doesn't matter to players that we are a bigger club globally. They don't care. They really don't care about our history. They care about what other clubs can offer them in terms of being successful. No one is signing for city or chelsea because of their history, yet they can attract the best players in the world. We can offer money, and that's it. And overpaying players is part of the reason we're in the trouble we're in now. If players actually cared about club history then we'd be able to sign the top players in world football.

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History is one of those things that people talk about a lot, but rarely actually define. Chelsea started becoming successful in 1996 with the FA Cup win, followed in close succession by League Cup, Cup Winners Cup, Super Cup and another FA Cup. Then in comes Roman and we know what happens then.

The point being that 1996 was 26 years ago now. Even if we took 2003 and Roman's arrival as the start date, that's still 19 years. For most players currently playing at the highest levels, Chelsea have been a newsworthy, highly successful club for most of their lives. In many cases their entire lives.

Strootman's Finger said:

United, Arsenal and Tottenham seemed to being playing hot potato to avoid 4th place from about Dec on, yet Chelsea only managed to finish 5 points above 5th. Chelsea is not much better than, well Arsenal and Tottenham, and are no way guaranteed to stay in the top 4.

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Feel free to take jabs at our club if it makes you feel better about yours. We might not be much better than Spurs or Arsenal but that still makes us much better than Utd.

Our team just lacks goals, if we finish the window with just a striker is be satisfied all things considered. Though the age of the defense will definitely need to be a priority at some point further down the line.

Strootman's Finger said:

United, Arsenal and Tottenham seemed to being playing hot potato to avoid 4th place from about Dec on, yet Chelsea only managed to finish 5 points above 5th. Chelsea is not much better than, well Arsenal and Tottenham, and are no way guaranteed to stay in the top 4.

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Arsenal and Spurs were playing only PL matches for like half the season. We were juggling like 5 competitions and ended up playing 60+ games, the most in the clubs history I believe. We also had a COVID outbreak (and didn’t have any matches postponed like Arsenal and Spurs did) we lost our two starting wingbacks for multiple months, and had crippling sanctions midway through the season which disrupted everything.

Arsenal and Spurs had every advantage possible over us and STILL finished behind us. The small gap in the end was a mirage.

SirReginald said:

Feel free to take jabs at our club if it makes you feel better about yours. We might not be much better than Spurs or Arsenal but that still makes us much better than Utd.

Our team just lacks goals, if we finish the window with just a striker is be satisfied all things considered. Though the age of the defense will definitely need to be a priority at some point further down the line.

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I'm not taking jabs, I am discussing the reality of the premier league. I'm not saying Chelsea isn't a good team, but they aren't in the same category as Liverpool and City, they are in the next tier, which includes Arsenal, Tottenham and hopefully United.

Chelsea is more attractive now for sure, will they be in 12 months i am not so sure.

Where on gods green earth are they getting all this cash from?

they have spent circa £180 mill so far and are thinking of spending another £140/160 on FdJ and Fofana all i'd ask for is how and how will they pass FFP unless they are spending now and wont for 2 windows or so, i just cant see how the numbers work for them spending £290 mill net as it stands if they FdJ and Fofana too

Strootman's Finger said:

I'm not taking jabs, I am discussing the reality of the premier league. I'm not saying Chelsea isn't a good team, but they aren't in the same category as Liverpool and City, they are in the next tier, which includes Arsenal, Tottenham and hopefully United.

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Chelsea, like they do time and time again, are buying their way back into being competitive.

Every time they look like they are dropping off all it takes is a new manager and injection of cash and they are right back up there.

We will struggle to compete with Chelsea, especially if the transfer window continues to progress in the way it has been.

Strootman's Finger said:

United, Arsenal and Tottenham seemed to being playing hot potato to avoid 4th place from about Dec on, yet Chelsea only managed to finish 5 points above 5th. Chelsea is not much better than, well Arsenal and Tottenham, and are no way guaranteed to stay in the top 4.

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We’ll, in fairness that would change if FDJ joined. I don’t think he’s going to, but think on this:

Havertz is predominantly a second striker. Sterling is better centrally than people think. If you are running a 3 5 2 with a center of Kante, De Jong and Mount(for example), attacking with CuCu and James on the wings, while replacing Azpi with the recovery pace of a Fofana …. We become a completely different side to contend with than our current setup

Jorgihno can’t play defense, and Kante can’t keep possession. You increase one or the other liability when you try to pair them with anyone else, and that’s why it’s tough to get Kova, Gallagher, and others on the field.

Now, Fofana alone could actually make fixing this possible. But De Jong would take it to a different level.

And we finished 4th last year even after not having the money to put toilet paper in the building, the players not knowing if their contracts could be extended or even honored … stuff that could destroy a team entirely. We were WELL clear of 5th before the invasion. So that end of the year points thing is misleading.

The greatest threat to us this year is how much Arsenal and Tottenham have improved. Our teams quality is still very high.

Things happening are imminent.

RedMilo said:

As you are a Barca fan, is your ideal window Frankie stays and lowers his salary, or Frenkie leaves and Bernardo comes in?

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Ideally Bernardo. Frenkie is a fantastic player but he doesn't fit the role Xavi wants for his system so it's best for all parties if he moves on to a club that will let him play like he does for the Dutch NT - he has a very specific role, EtH knows all about that. He would be wasted if he is converted into a lone DM to replace Busquets. Bernardo would fit like a glove and also be on much lower wages, seems like a win-win situation there.

Having said that, I don't fault the player if he chooses to stay on his current wages, it's his choice and fans shouldn't abuse him for that. I'm 99.9% sure by now he won't reduce them as we are 1 day away from the first match of La liga and he's still standing firm.

Whatever happens in the end, I appreciate Laporta's balls. If he is able to register all players, wrestle back the League from Madrid's clutches, and eventually oversee the formation of a continental Superleague, it would be one hell of an accomplishment, particularly given the huge risks involved.

People can do a PhD thesis on how this Barca business operation panned out, if it pans out the way Laporta envisions (or even if it shatters miraculously).

Bluelion7 said:

We’ll, in fairness that would change if FDJ joined. I don’t think he’s going to, but think on this:

Havertz is predominantly a second striker. Sterling is better centrally than people think. If you are running a 3 5 2 with a center of Kante, De Jong and Mount(for example), attacking with CuCu and James on the wings, while replacing Azpi with the recovery pace of a Fofana …. We become a completely different side to contend with than our current setup

Jorgihno can’t play defense, and Kante can’t keep possession. You increase one or the other liability when you try to pair them with anyone else, and that’s why it’s tough to get Kova, Gallagher, and others on the field.

Now, Fofana alone could actually make fixing this possible. But De Jong would take it to a different level.

And we finished 4th last year even after not having the money to put toilet paper in the building, the players not knowing if their contracts could be extended or even honored … stuff that could destroy a team entirely. We were WELL clear of 5th before the invasion. So that end of the year points thing is misleading.

The greatest threat to us this year is how much Arsenal and Tottenham have improved. Our teams quality is still very high.

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Sorry you wasted your time, but I am not reading some Chelsea fans fantasy about signing Frenkie.

Bluelion7 said:

We’ll, in fairness that would change if FDJ joined. I don’t think he’s going to, but think on this:

Havertz is predominantly a second striker. Sterling is better centrally than people think. If you are running a 3 5 2 with a center of Kante, De Jong and Mount(for example), attacking with CuCu and James on the wings, while replacing Azpi with the recovery pace of a Fofana …. We become a completely different side to contend with than our current setup

Jorgihno can’t play defense, and Kante can’t keep possession. You increase one or the other liability when you try to pair them with anyone else, and that’s why it’s tough to get Kova, Gallagher, and others on the field.

Now, Fofana alone could actually make fixing this possible. But De Jong would take it to a different level.

And we finished 4th last year even after not having the money to put toilet paper in the building, the players not knowing if their contracts could be extended or even honored … stuff that could destroy a team entirely. We were WELL clear of 5th before the invasion. So that end of the year points thing is misleading.

The greatest threat to us this year is how much Arsenal and Tottenham have improved. Our teams quality is still very high.

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Get the feck out

Orc said:

Arsenal and Spurs were playing only PL matches for like half the season. We were juggling like 5 competitions and ended up playing 60+ games, the most in the clubs history I believe. We also had a COVID outbreak (and didn’t have any matches postponed like Arsenal and Spurs did) we lost our two starting wingbacks for multiple months, and had crippling sanctions midway through the season which disrupted everything.

Arsenal and Spurs had every advantage possible over us and STILL finished behind us. The small gap in the end was a mirage.

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While I agree , you guys are favorites, its between 4 of us for the last 3 positions. Last season was quite strange. Everyone had an opportunity to take that spot and everyone screwed it up big time.

Plant0x84 said:

Worst . Britney Spoof. Ever.
I’m not even sure it fits the tune!

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Oh baby, baby, how was I supposed to know
That something wasn't right here?
Oh baby, baby, all summer we chased you so
And now you're out of sight, yeah
Show me how you prefer us to Chelsea
Tell me, baby, 'cause I need to know now, oh because

This transfer thread, is killing me (and I)
I must confess, I still believe, still believe.
When I hear "financial levers" I lose my mind
So give me a sign
Pick us Frenkie, or I'll cry

goalscholes said:

Oh baby, baby, how was I supposed to know
That something wasn't right here?
Oh baby, baby, all summer we chased you so
And now you're out of sight, yeah
Show me how you prefer us to Chelsea
Tell me, baby, 'cause I need to know now, oh because

This transfer thread, is killing me (and I)
I must confess, I still believe, still believe.
When I hear "financial levers" I lose my mind
So give me a sign
Pick us Frenkie, or I'll cry

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Well done

In summary: